UFC 161 Results Recap: Rashad Evans Edges Dan Henderson

UFC 161 is in the books from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg and the card delivered a litany of decision wins. Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson met in a battle to retain relevancy at light heavyweight. Evans came out with spring in his step, but Hendo eventually rocked him with a stiff jab and looked to finish. Evans recovered well, and used his wrestling to pressure Hendo up against the cage in the second. A heated exchange soon followed, and Evans clipped Henderson. The last round saw Evans begin to land, and Henderson appeared gassed. Rashad Evans wins the fight by split decision.

Surging heavyweight Roy Nelson met prospect Stipe Miocic in the co-main event, and the bout started off with Miocic looking to avoid Nelson’s big right hand. He did so effectively, peppering Nelson with shots while circling to his left. Miocic rocked Nelson in the first, and continued to land cleanly throughout the second. Nelson was extremely gassed and unable to land his trademark power shot, and Miocic utilized a great gameplan to earn the biggest win of his career by far. He landed 137 significant strikes it what is sure to earn him a top ten rankings spot.

Ryan Jimmo and Igor Pokrajac met at light heavyweight, and the bout started off a boring one as we saw two early restarts by referee Yves Lavigne. The second round saw Jimmo drop Pokrajac and dominate the round from top position. More of the same followed in the third, with Pokrajac missing a guillotine in the guard. Jimmo took home the unanimous decision victory.

Alexis Davis and Rosi Sexton squared off in the fourth-ever UFC women’s bantamweight bout. BJJ black belt Davis utilized her submission skills early, locking in a triangle choke that never quite materialized. She ate some hard shots from Sexton in the process, but rebounded strongly in the second with a dominant back mount. Although resilient, Sexton was saved by the bell. Davis took her opponent’s back again in third, locking up the unanimous decision win in the process.

Pat Barry fought Shawn Jordan in a battle of heavyweight strikers, and as advertised, it was not to last long. Jordan landed a vicious uppercut early on, and followed with a flurry that left Barry turtled against the cage. The bout was stopped just 59 seconds in.

UFC 161 Full Results:

Main Card:

Rashad Evans def. Dan Henderson via split decision.

Stipe Miocic def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision

Ryan Jimmo def. Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision

Alexis Davis def. Rosi Sexton via unanimous decision

Shawn Jordan def. Pat Barry via R1 TKO (strikes)

Preliminary Card:

Jake Shields def. Tyron Woodley via split decision

James Krause def. Sam Stout via R3 submission (guillotine choke)

Sean Pierson def. Kenny Robertson via majority decision

Roland Delorme def. Edwin Figueroa via unanimous decision

Mitch Clarke def. John Maguire via unanimous decision

Yves Jabouin def. Dustin Pague via split decision